I'm mainly checking on this for a friend of mine, but it'll satisfy my curiosity as well.

Does putting wheels with different backspacing on an IFS truck or 4runner ('86~'95) change alignment?

Also, those of you with rear IFS trusses: have you ever had your alignment checked after beating on it/have you needed alignments since you put it on?

Thanks a lot,
Bryan

 

btt

 

Alignment should not need to vary with different wheels.

One would assume that if you beat on the rear IFS truss, then perhaps the rest of the steering got beat upon as well. Easy to do a quick tape measure check of the toe in and see how it compares to the toe in that you had after an alignment.

 

How would I go about doing that? Just measure between the front wheels front and back?

 

Yep, that's about it. I pick a good crisp edge on the tread to measure from on each side.
If you want to be more exact, chalk mark the spot at the front, measure then roll forward or back 1/2 tire rev and measure the same place in back. Subtract the front and back separations and the front usually is a little less for toe in, I run 1/16" to 1/8" toe in on my '85:

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...html#Alignment
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_TechInfo.shtml#Steering

 

Thanks for all the information

 

I would add to 4Crawlers post that IF your suspension bushings are shot (or just getting really soft) then you can indeed get some alignment shift between high backspacing and low backspacing wheels. But, if everything is in good shape, you should see no difference.

 

If you had to beat on the truss you may have spread the frame slightly and if that is the case you will have more negitive camber and also more tow out. That rear truss is a frame saver so even if you need to get an alingnment it's worth it.

 

Hmm, by "beating on it" I just meant the truck in general, nothing's bent. I was just kinda curious how things were for people after wheeling trips, etc..

edit: I've had mine on for quite a while now (early last summer maybe), and I got the truck aligned last week and was told the alignment was off quite a bit... but it hadn't been aligned since sometime long before I put the truss on.

That's why I am curious how other people's stuff held up/stayed in alignment after wheeling.